Chapter 3: Water

90% of the Earth's ice and 70% of fresh water is frozen in the ice of Antarctica
at the South Pole, where the average ice thickness is 7,000 feet. If all Antarctica's ice melted,
world-wide sea levels would rise about 200 feet, however, the temperature of most of Antarctica
does not rise above freezing.

On the opposite side of the Earth at the North Pole, is the Arctic, a large floating
ice mass in the Arctic Ocean, however, the arctic ice is not nearly as thick as the ice in the
Antarctica.
At the end of September, 2007, the Arctic sea ice dropped 39% below the average of the 1979 to 2000
period;
its lowest level since 1979, when satellite measurements of the Arctic first started being made.
The ice drop was so great that at end of September, 2007, the Northwest Passage, a water short cut
between
the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, completely opened up for the first time in recorded history.

If global warming trends continue, then by 2030, it may happen that the Arctic Ocean
will be completely ice free during the summer months, however, if the Arctic ice melts, the impact on
overall
sea level will be small since Arctic ice is already floating in sea water.

Nearby, but for the most part south of the Arctic, is the world's largest non-continent island,
Greenland,
81% covered in ice. Because Greenland is more southernly than the Arctic, its ice is more likely to melt
as global warming continues. If Greenland's ice were to completely melt, the world's sea levels would
rise by
about 23 feet.

Global warming causes overall air and water temperature increases due in large part to the
continued increase in the human production of global warming gasses such as carbon dioxide (CO2). As
ocean water
temperatures rise, water expands increasing in volume and glacier ice melts both adding additional water
volume to the worlds oceans, in turn, causing sea levels to rise.

In the last 100 year, sea levels have risen by 6 inches, however, glaciers are now melting at a much
faster rate than they were a hundred years ago only exacerbating the sea level water rise phenomenon
which is beginning to have a world wide disruptive impact. This growing global water crisis is one
of humanity's greatest and complex challenges. With the strategic management and conservation of water
resources being a top priority, the global human response to the impact of rising sea level on habitats
and built infrastructure will be critical for their survival.

All over the world, major urban centers will be affected by rising sea level caused by global
warming and climate change. Cities like New York, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle,
Miami, Amsterdam, New Orleans, Buenos Aires and Venice will need to plan for the impacts associated with
rising waters. Many are in fact doing so now.

As the global community begins to have an in depth understanding of the modern human
relationship
with water, looking at international models will be vital to developing solutions and coping strategies.
Fortunately, there are organizations dedicated to advocating for these issues and getting the message
out
to policy makers.

Green infrastructure is an area where the issue of rising water levels can be somewhat
alleviated.
Through planning, implementation and community involvement places vulnerable to sea level rise can be
protected.
From ecological restoration to creating green cities, there are many technologies and methods that can
serve
as solutions to dealing with rising water.

For example, impervious surfaces such a concrete increase an urban
areas vulnerability to flooding. It is important that developers, architects and engineers are aware of
smart
growth strategies that can be incorporated into design. In New York for example, there are new smart
growth and
infrastructure laws that will guide decision making in this area.

Habitat and wildlife will also be impacted as well as entire ecosystems that all life on
the
planet depends on for survival. Looking at water from a watershed perspective will be important when
exploring
sea level rise solutions. How the land is handled, managed and developed impacts not only the water
quality, but
the quality of life.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, it is estimated that a one percent loss
in wetlands within a watershed can increase flooding by almost seven percent. In fact, about one million
gallons
of water can be retained in a one acre wetland. Destruction of this natural green infrastructure can
have detrimental
effects in a region threatened by rising sea level.

Flooding is not only an environmental issue, it's an economic one as well, since flood
damage can be
expensive and, in severe cases, financially crippling for a city or community, as was seen in New
Orleans after
Hurricane Katrina.

Failure to first acknowledge climate-change sea-level rise, followed by failing to
effectively
manage water resources before sea levels rise to unprecedented levels, can result in devastating lose of
life, property,
and financial resources in high-flood risks regions, especially if such a region is venerable to big
nature events,
such as, hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis are possible.

Solutions to climate-change sea-level rise related flooding, require an integrated
systems approach and support from the public, private businesses, major corporations, academic
institutions, first
responders and government officials.